The second album from Italian hard rockers grabbed our attention as soon as it landed on the mat here at URHQ. Why? Because it contains a cover of Chris Cornell’s ‘You Know My Name’, and it arrived just hours before the singer’s death was announced… We tasked David O’Neill with telling the story of the release as a whole:

Having had the fireball that was Bullets And Octane explode into his life a little more than a decade ago, and then disappear again just as quickly, the reviewer known as Bennyman was more than delighted to find out that not only had Bullets And Octane had re-appeared from out of nowhere with a new album that shows they’ve lost none of their fuck you attitude or lust for rock ‘n’ roll:

Originally founded as a one-off side project through which Paradise Lost guitarist Gregor Mackintosh paid tribute to his late father, Vallenfyre have now progressed to album number three, which our man Jonni D reckons not only is “the perfect culmination of the band’s work so far” but also one of the most streamlined – and fun – extreme metal releases of 2017. Click the link to find out more:

Over the past month or so, Magic Eight Ball frontman Baz Francis has been documenting his solo jaunts, which have taken him from England to Turkey to Finland to Egypt (and a few other places in between), with his exclusive Über Rock tour diary… Along the way, he recorded his debut live solo album – in the shadows of the Great Pyramids! Dom Daley felt duty bound to check it out:

Reviewing hot new releases may be Dom Daley’s business, but it’s almost always a pleasure for him to do so and share the results with Uber Rock’s readers… he didn’t hesitate to once again combine both when this little five-tracker winged its way onto his stereo system and into his ears:

Fancy yourself some “blues infested punkabilly” this fine summer day? Oh, go on… you know you do! And, if you do, then don’t hesitate to click this here link to find out why Martin Haslam reckons you should be taking yourself down Brighton way to do just that:

Last month, Little Steven released his first solo album in almost two decades. The album had been inspired by what was supposed to be a one-off appearance with the re-united Disciples Of Soul toward the end of last year… but, the bug bit, and here he is – out on the road again. Mark Ashby and The Dark Queen took the first class train ride from URHQ in Belfast to catch this first class tour when it pulled into Dublin’s fair city for only one of two shows in this corner of the Überverse last week:

There’s not much more you can say about the most suitably named compilation album to be released so far… except maybe to explain why this 29-track conglomeration really does represent ‘The Best’ of Michael Monroe’s post-Hanoi career. And who else would we ask to proffer that explanation than or very own rock ‘n’ roll bloodhound, Mr Dom Daley?

Orden Ogan are a German power metal band who both claim not to be a power metal band and have been on and off Über Rock’s radar for the past few years… but, they haven’t crossed that of our self-confessed Helloween fan, Gerald Stansbury, as so he came with a pair of fresh ears to their imminently released fourth studio album. Click the link to find out if these particular gunmen hit the target or left our Texan Ranger wanting to shoot himself:

It is one of the most aniticipated, most desired – and most controversial – reunions in the history of rock ‘n’f’n’ roll – that of three fifths of the members of a band responsible for one of the most iconic albums of all time. Debates raged online for months before, but the proof, as they say, is in the finished performance, and Rich Hobson was among the thousands to make the pilgrimage to London’s Olympic Stadium to see if Axl, Duff and Slash could get on, never mind cut it, all these after that infamous incarnation of GN’R imploded:

With two days’ worth of blazing sunshine and hard rocking bands behind them, it might have made sense for Uber Rock’s dynamic duo to view third and final day of Download 2017 to be a gentle wind-down… They had no chance! With two hugely iconic and respected acts playing (ostensibly) their last ever shows in this corner of the Überverse, it’s fair to say that the Sunday held some of the biggest draws of the weekend. Find out what went down on the other side of the link:

Charismatic Noo Yawk rockers Coheed and Cambria brought the latest instalment of their ‘Neverender’ tours to Shit Island recently, with a triumphant performance at Download followed by two sold-out back-to-back nights at the legendary Koko. The latter shows saw them performing their landmark third album in its entirety, as well as treating their rabid fans to a nice little rummage through the rest of their back catalogue. Phil Cooper jumped in his spaceship, buckled up and enjoyed the ride:

It had been a long time since Über bosses Monk and DQ had rock ‘n’ rolled in the historic Ulster Hall, one of the most iconic venues on these isles… and we know the head honcho will do almost anything for his beloved other half. So, when it was announced that Alter Bridge were playing their only UK headline show of this current run in their home city, there was only one thing the man with the plan could do:

Having survived the first day of Download without a drop of rain, Über Rock’s intrepid dynamic duo of Rich Hobson and Jonni D were up and about bright and early for the second day’s action, wasting no time in heading into the moshpits, grabbing as much action as they could and reporting from the frontlines of Donington’s multiple stages. Click the link to see what bands impressed our makeshift team:

Four years ago, Chicago alt-metallers Madina Lake undertook their “farewell” tour… but, guess what? Less than three years later, they’ve just finished their “comeback” jaunt around Shit Island. Hannah Reid returned to the very same venue where she thought she’d seen them for the last time… but, could she control her excitement at getting to do it all over again? Click the link to find out:

Forty years since they released their self-titled debut album, Cheap Trick – regarded as one of the most eccentric and innovative, never minding enduring, hard rock bands of their generation – have emerged from the studio once again to present us with their 18th studio album. Our man Gerald Stansbury reckons it’s a wee bit more than alright, as he heaps copious praise on the opus and recommends that you rush out and get a copy post haste – but not until you’ve clicked the link to find out why: